We introduce Meta-Structural Intelligence (MSI), a theoretical framework that elevates AI systems to the role of architects of organizational meta-structures. Departing from traditional theories of organizational design that confine artificial intelligence to decision-support or control, MSI frames AI as Metacoders that proactively generate, formalize and propagate design blueprints and executable governance ontologies across firms and industries. We theorize two key mechanisms (algorithmic isomorphism and generative institutionalization) to explain how AI-driven templates can accelerate field-level convergence, reshape hierarchies and blur firm boundaries. In contrast to existing paradigms, MSI uniquely establishes AI's macro-level agency that co-designs organizational meta-structures in transforming organizational design in industries. This theory reframes AI's role and argues that AI not only influences behavior and decisions but also co-designs the foundational meta-structures of organizations and industries. Hence, the contributions in this research are (1) MSI, a mid-range theory that repositions AI as a macro-level architect of organizational form rather than a micro-level task agent; (2) three original constructs (AI Metacoders, Structural Templates and Design Ontologies); (3) two generative mechanisms (algorithmic isomorphism and generative institutionalization); and (4) six testable propositions that connect template diffusion driven by AI to changes in firm boundaries, authority structures and industry-wide institutional logics.
The paper examines the relationship between national liberation movements, terrorism, and state terrorism, focusing on the role of violence in struggles for self-determination. It argues that terrorism, defined as the strategic use of organised violence to generate fear for political ends, is not limited to non-state actors but is also employed by states as a method of repression. National liberation movements often arise in contexts of prolonged oppression and domination, where violence becomes embedded in a reciprocal cycle in which non-state terrorism provokes state terrorism and vice versa. The analysis is primarily conceptual, supported by empirical evidence from two historically significant cases: the Irish national movement and the Algerian War of Independence. Drawing on established frameworks in terrorism studies, these cases exemplify the 'anticolonial wave' of terrorism and demonstrate how violence functioned as a tactic for both liberation movements and colonial authorities. While acknowledging that self-determination can be achieved through nonviolent means, the paper shows that when political rule is maintained through state terror and coercion, the likelihood of violent resistance increases substantially. By linking historical cases to contemporary self-determination conflicts, it highlights the continued relevance of these dynamics for understanding current patterns of political violence, repression, and contested sovereignty.
An empirical review of the China-Australia strategic partnership formulated in 2013 suggests that it has remained largely 'nominal', with bilateral relations characterized by an ambivalent pattern of deep economic interdependence alongside persistent political and security mistrust. The research objective of this article is to examine China's partnership strategy toward Australia and its underlying motivations as well as the systemic and unit level constraints that have contributed to the formation of this ambivalent pattern. This article contributes to the scholarly debate on China-Australia relations by situating China's partnership strategy within the broader context of China's rise at the systemic (global) level and by examining the China-Australia partnership through the lens of unit-level and systemic dynamics. This article finds that certain systemic- and unit-level factors have facilitated economic interdependence between China and Australia, whereas others have estranged the two states, resulting in the current ambivalent pattern of bilateral relations. This article concludes that this ambivalent pattern is likely to persist in the foreseeable future given the growing clash of interest generated by the systemic and unit-level constraints.
In challenging and dynamic contexts, organisations are prioritising an environment of innovation and creativity as part of their strategy to drive differentiated employee performance, build competitive advantage and ensure long-term sustainability. The aim of this study is to systematically collect the isolated fragments of literature relating to the climate of creativity and the climate of innovation, and bring them together in a theoretical lens through which to better see and understand previous research relating to these constructs, the current state of the literature, and identify gaps in knowledge to guide future research. The systematic literature review methodology was used to review previous studies in this field. A total of 104 conceptual and empirical studies were identified in the Web of Science database. Content analysis made it possible to group the studies into three levels of analysis: individual, team and organisational, consolidating at each level the insights of previous research into the antecedents and results of these types of climates in the organisation. The integrative model proposed in this study integrates a holistic view of mediation-moderation according to a multi-level approach and attests to the interdependencies between the research paths found in this field of knowledge. It also identifies gaps in the literature and presents promising proposals for future research. In particular, this review highlights the need for future studies to simultaneously explore creativity and innovation climates through multi-level approaches and to deepen the role of mediating and moderating mechanisms in shaping organisational performance.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are important intermediaries in fostering public participation and social acceptance of RE technologies that are informed by the principles of TM transition management. Using a qualitative approach, based on TM transition management theory, this study examines the barriers to solar energy adoption in Iran from the perspective of NGOs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 active NGO members, and a conceptual model of key barriers was developed. Findings indicate that the limited effectiveness of NGOs is due to insufficient financial and material resources; low public awareness of NGO initiatives and RE benefits; insufficient scientific and practical capacities in NGOs; lack of coordination with policymakers in decision-making and implementation; and consequently, lack of stakeholder interactions. These barriers hinder the relational processes essential for energy transition, as conceptualized in TM frameworks. By illuminating the underutilized potential of NGOs, this research provides practical insights for policymakers, communities, and governments to increase social acceptance and accelerate RE deployment, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Future studies should explore consumer and producer perspectives to comprehensively address the pillars of the energy transition, including community energy partnerships across the social, public, and private sectors.
The increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data (BD) in the tourism industry has raised growing concerns about data privacy and security. Tourism organizations are increasingly using these technologies to better understand tourists, personalize experiences, and support business decision-making. However, this trend also creates significant ethical and legal challenges related to the collection, storage, and processing of personal data. In this context, two key aspects become especially important: education and transparency. Tourists should be informed not only about the benefits of AI and BD, but also about the potential risks associated with their use. Likewise, tourism organizations must be transparent regarding how tourist data are collected and used, while also offering users greater control over their privacy. To address these issues, this study conducts a systematic literature review to examine the current state of research on data security and privacy in tourism within the context of AI and BD implementation. Relevant studies will be identified through searches in Web of Science and Scopus using predefined keyword combinations and inclusion criteria. The findings will provide valuable implications for both academic research and tourism management practice..
This paper examines how transnational reference groups shape subjective welfare among Central Asian migrants in Russia. We define subjective welfare as an individual's self-assessed position within the local income distribution, a measure of perceived material standing relative to others, distinct from broader subjective well-being, which encompasses life satisfaction and affective components such as happiness. Migrants maintain dual connections to both their origin country and host society, comparing their incomes with reference groups in each context; we expect the weight of these comparisons to shift with time spent abroad. Using panel data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS), which captures predominantly long-term migrants from former Soviet Central Asian republics, we estimate fixed-effects models to test these dynamics. Our findings show that, as migrants spend more time in Russia, the influence of origin-country reference income on subjective welfare diminishes while that of host-country reference income strengthens. After approximately two decades, migrants come to resemble native Russians in how reference income shapes their subjective welfare. These results highlight shifting reference groups as an important and understudied dimension of migrant integration.
The sustainable transition in transport is a key area of action in the fight against climate change. Although there is a great deal of knowledge about the socio-technical transition (STT) in urban transport, less is known about these processes in urban peripheries. This paper provides new knowledge about the transition dynamics in suburban transport regimes. It applies the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) approach, a mixed-methods research design and an interpretive analysis of qualitative interviews with suburban residents and decision-makers. The empirical case is a suburban town in the Berlin metropolitan region, which is contrasted with an urban district in Berlin. The paper reveals that the shift towards low-carbon modes of transport is much less advanced in the suburban area. Despite the availability of alternatives, cars with combustion engines remain dominant in suburban transport. In addition to infrastructural and socio-structural factors, a distinct suburban state of mind, characterized by values such as independence and privacy, poses an obstacle to stronger transition. The paper suggests that transition processes in transport vary systematically between different types of area. It advocates greater spatial sensitivity in MLP and proposes ways to achieve this analytically.
Demand-side innovation policies are increasingly encouraged as complements to R&D subsidies, yet firm-level evidence on how such instruments translate into firms' both internal upgrading and commercialization activities - especially across heterogeneous European innovation systems - remains limited. This study helps to address this gap by examining the effects of public procurement for innovation (PPI) and government-facilitated export support on firms' process innovation and innovative sales, comparing European innovation leaders and strong innovators with moderate and emerging innovators. By employing Flash Eurobarometer data from 1,911 firms in 29 European countries, along with treatment effect analysis, we demonstrate that PPI is positively and significantly associated with both process innovation and innovative sales in both analysed groups. Such findings indicate its dual link to upgrading and commercialization. By contrast, we show that government-facilitated export support is only positively associated with innovative sales. This study advances the analysis of the impact of demand-side policy instruments on firms' innovation-related outcomes, thereby contributing to the current state of the art. The final part of this study offers tailored policy implications for different country groups.
Civil society is crucial for societal transformation, but how its engagement can scale up and become institutionally embedded at the regional level remains widely unclear. We enhance the knowledge in this area by linking civic engagement with transformative social innovation (TSI) research. Our aim is to understand how cognitive, social, institutional, organizational and geographical proximity factors strengthen and hinder civic-led TSI initiatives by applying the proximity approach. The object of this case study was the 'Mitmach-Region Saale-Holzland-Kreis', an initiative which aims to establish mutual cooperation at a regional level based on solidarity and 'commoning'. We found that engagement was based primarily on cognitive proximity, whereas organizational distance was the biggest hurdle, also suppressing positive effects from cognitive proximity. We also, most importantly, discovered that contributing to societal transformation played a role in a participant's engagement, but was particularly suppressed by missing institutional proximity through disapproval from society or the immediate environment. Altogether, strengthening the proximities to promote engagement in civic-led TSI initiatives holds great potential for contributing to societal transformation.
The adoption of open innovation has consistently faced numerous obstacles, the nature of which varies according to contextual factors, including national cultural differences. While national culture is undeniably a significant and influential underlying factor, its role in shaping open innovation barriers has received limited attention in the existing literature. To address this research gap, this study employs a two-phase methodological framework. The first phase involves a comprehensive review and content analysis of prior studies on open innovation barriers in Iran, with the most critical barriers identified through Shannon entropy analysis of qualitative data. The second phase applies the Grey Interpretive Ranking Process (GIRP), a novel methodological approach developed in this study, to prioritize cultural dimensions in relation to Open Innovation Barriers (OIBs). The findings reveal that short-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance, and collectivism emerge as the primary cultural dimensions significantly impeding the adoption of open innovation practices in Iran, demonstrating a strong relation with OIBs. The ranking and comparative analysis indicate that the most substantial open innovation barriers in Iran align closely with Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which received the highest scores in the evaluation.
Digitalisation is often seen as a 'panacea for all ills' and a key enabler of sustainable regional development. However, history shows that digitalisation often falters due to inadequate governance and implementation. The complexity of contemporary society presents multi-layered challenges, especially given the high expectations surrounding Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as Big Data and Internet of Things. Success requires careful contextualisation of objectives, technologies, and their intended roles. At the regional level, a gap persists between theory, ambitions and the practical realisation of digitalisation - an issue this paper addresses.We explore how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles can support sustainable regional digitalisation planning. Specifically, we demonstrate how embedding the Systems Design Approach + (SDA+), grounded in the Technology Organisation Environment framework, within the reflection process of RRI facilitates a deeper and more granular reflection. Drawing on empirical insights from the EU-funded DigiTeRRI project involving three European regions, we illustrate how the SDA+-enhanced reflection process improved regional digitalisation strategies and discuss its broader potential for addressing other 'wicked issues'.
Rural development policies in the European Union frequently articulate the objective of strengthening the population-retaining capacity of rural areas. Drawing on settlement-level data from Hungary, this paper analyses the relationship between European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) subsidies and changes in out-migration from rural settlements during the 2007-2013 programming period. Using linear regression-based path analysis, the study evaluates the direct and indirect associations between four EAFRD funding axes, local labour-market indicators and changes in outward mobility. Separate models are estimated for agglomeration villages and disadvantaged villages. In general, EAFRD subsidies show insignificant associations with out-migration. In contrast, in the subgroup of disadvantaged villages, more structured relationships emerge. While all funding axes are positively associated with enterprise formation and income growth, none demonstrate a robust positive effect on local employment. Entrepreneurship is consistently associated with lower levels of out-migration, whereas increases in employment and income are linked to higher outward mobility, suggesting a mobility-enabling rather than population-retaining effect. Agricultural subsidies show a modest restraining effect on out-migration, while sustainability-oriented and community-based funds are associated with increased mobility. The findings underline that outward migration is not simply the inverse of rural vitality, but part of broader development-mobility interactions.
This research examines how varying degrees of globalization and digital transformation affect skill demand, socioeconomic inequality and convergence in the EU by 2030. The study employs a comprehensive scenario-mapping approach using state-of-the-art literature, existing econometric analyses conducted within the GI-NI project used as contextual inputs and expert insights. Four scenarios are developed based on potential trends in digital transformation (stagnation or acceleration) and globalization (further globalization or deglobalization). These scenarios highlight essential changes needed to improve skills and alleviate inequality. In all scenarios, the future labour market demands a rapidly evolving skill set, with persistent risks of skills mismatch across educational groups and a strong focus on digital, technical, analytical and communication skills. Three scenarios suggest worsening inequality, particularly affecting low-skilled workers, women and older individuals, while high-skilled workers adapt more quickly. The study shows that communication technology can drive between-region economic convergence, depending on the interaction with globalization and the pace of digital transformation. However, accelerated digital transformation with deglobalization poses divergence risks, as some EU regions may struggle to adapt quickly. The scenarios underscore the complex interplay between digital transformation and globalization, necessitating multifaceted policy responses to foster inclusive growth and mitigate the adverse effects on vulnerable populations.
Social entrepreneurship has undergone significant evolution, which we argue has led to the emergence of a new form of social enterprise we term "new generation social enterprises" (NGSEs). Unlike traditional social enterprises, NGSEs adopt commercial and innovative business models that enable them to function independent of donors. Arguably, NGSEs provide substantiation of the emergence of a fourth sector (hybrid organisations) in addition to the public, private, and civil society/non-profit/NGO sectors. This paper is primarily conceptual, but was informed by interviews with social entrepreneurs (potential NGSEs) and experts in social entrepreneurship. Interviews and our paper discuss: whether NGSEs exist; what makes NGSEs different from other social enterprises; and challenges NGSEs face. We also discuss whether NGSEs are indicative of increasing permeability or whether they are an example of the Fourth Sector. The challenges faced by NGSEs include lack of recognition, legitimacy, and regulatory and taxation hurdles. We suggest that regulatory and policy changes are needed to enhance the reputation and facilitate the ongoing development of social enterprises. What is needed most is awareness and acceptance of the diversity of social enterprises, policy changes that acknowledge the existence of NGSEs, and an international standard to provide appropriate governance of social enterprises.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has ramifications for qualitative research practices within the European Union, forcing researchers to grapple with new and broad regulations concerning the protection of personal data. Yet besides itspositive impacts on research ethics and consent practices, the GDPR may clash with principles of qualitative inquiry. This article highlights the need for an interdisciplinary discussion to address the tensions between GDPR-mandates - such as informed consent, data minimisation and data storage - and the explorative, iterative and flexible methodologies that underpin qualitative research. We will highlight how the regulation's demands impact key stages of the research process, including recruitment, data collection, and transcription, creating practical and ethical dilemmas for researchers. These impacts trigger critical questions about how to maintain the integrity of research while adhering to legal constraints. Consequently, this article calls for a critical and open examination of the profound ramifications posed by GDPR, urging researchers to confront the limitations it imposes on scholarly inquiry. Only through dialogue and collective reflection can the academic community navigate these obstacles and rethink research practices to safeguard both data protection rights of participants and the epistemic openness vital to qualitative methodologies.
